Social media has been buzzing since news broke Thursday morning that the Los Angeles Lakers are pursuing Dan Hurley for their vacant head coaching position.
UConn fans are, understandably … a little concerned.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Lakers are “preparing a massive, long-term contract offer” for Hurley and that the sides are “planning to escalate discussions in the coming days.”
UConn Twitter (or is it UConn X now?) reacted to the news about how you’d expect.
@NoEscalators pretty much spoke for every UConn fan this morning.
1) I’m still asleep right? Right. Good.
2) Waking up to that many notifications is never good.
3) The Lakers want to pay JJ less and are leaking (cope).
4) Hurley wants UConn to pay more and is leaking (cope).
5) Shit. https://t.co/9KYUcl7hQk— No Escalators (@NoEscalators) June 6, 2024
Though the Lakers are preparing a massive offer, @NoEscalators was ready to help close the gap between UConn and L.A.
If anyone from UConn is reading this: if the price difference to keep Hurley away from the Lakers is between $0 and $357 just give me a call I got you guys
— No Escalators (@NoEscalators) June 6, 2024
This is a really good point, actually.
I'm not sure why Dan Hurley won't consider my own mental health when making career decisions
— Russell Steinberg (@Russ_Steinberg) June 6, 2024
Marie LeBrun showed off next-level coping skills here.
No matter what happens with Dan Hurley it's important to remember: he did not pick Kentucky.
— Marie LeBrun (@MarieLizLeBrun) June 6, 2024
That’s how you cope, Mediocre Dan! Good stuff.
It’s the NBA Finals and all the media can talk about is UConn head coach Dan Hurley.
By Kentucky fan standards, this makes UConn THE blue blood of the NBA.
Just saying.
— Mediocre Dan (UConn Fan) (@ItsMediocreDan) June 6, 2024
You know what? That might work, someone should get on that.
Has anyone talked to Dan about Earthquakes
— Penfield (@BpenfieldJ) June 6, 2024
Did you hear that, UConn fans? Maybe just panic in shifts.
Now is not the time to panic. I am doing all the panicking we need to do, so the rest of you, remain calm.
— Boneyardigans (@UConnFanDotCom) June 6, 2024
Always looking for the next challenge.
Dan won’t leave for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Manchester United, on the other hand…
— Mister Big Hoss McHot Balls ☄️☄️ (@MisterHotBalls) June 6, 2024
UConn women’s play-by-play broadcaster Bob Joyce putting some positive energy out there for Huskies fans.
Gut feeling, Hurley stays.
— Bob Joyce (@bobjoyce27) June 6, 2024
CBS Sports’ Seth Davis agrees.
I'm old enough to remember when Mike Krzyzewski had Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak at his home in Durham as he pondered a $40 million offer to be head coach. When the Lakers call, you listen, but at the end of the day I'm guessing Dan Hurley makes the same decision to stay in college.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) June 6, 2024
Deep breaths.
Everybody relax. Of course the back-to-back national champion coach is going to get big-time NBA offers. We all knew that.
— Pat LeneFan (@patlenehan14) June 6, 2024
This is a pretty funny visual.
Trying to imagine Danny Hurley screaming at LeBron and I can’t stop laughing
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) June 6, 2024
Huskies fans hoping it doesn’t come to this.
Remember: Every player on that UConn squad will have a 30-day window to transfer if Dan Hurley joins the Lakers. And if that happens, well, I’m not sure we’ve seen anything like that in the CBB transfer portal era involving a potential preseason No. 1 squad.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) June 6, 2024
‘Load management’ doesn’t really feel like Hurley’s style.
Dan Hurley over an 82-game season with NBA players. I don’t see how anyone survives with sanity intact.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) June 6, 2024
Sam Vecenie made an interesting point on how Hurley’s offense and system would look at the next level.
Hurley would be a killer hire for the Lakers Xs and Os wise. Would be FASCINATED to see him deal with professionals and officials at the NBA level, and how he'd deal with the 82-game grind. But he'd be creative and have his guys prepped/ready to play every night.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) June 6, 2024
Would Hurley’s potential departure be part of a larger trend in college sports?
Jim Harbaugh and Danny Hurley — fresh off national titles — jetting to the pros within months of each other is a sad commentary on the state of college athletics.
— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) June 6, 2024
The chance to coach Bronny probably isn’t the first thing Hurley’s thinking about, right?
Would kind of rock if bronny played the Andrew Hurley role of standing still w the ball in his hands at the end of blow outs and under no circumstances shooting it
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) June 6, 2024
Quick $0.02: I don't hate the hire, but if you think Hurley's program is somehow gonna turn Max Christie and Bronny James into stars then I've got some bad news for you.
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) June 6, 2024
Spotrac pointing out just a few numbers to keep in mind.
Couple of Danny Hurley notes…
▪️Signed a 6 year, $32.1M extension with UConn last summer…
▪️Must pay a $1.875M fee to leave for an NBA job…
▪️Was reportedly offered $10M-$12M per year from Kentucky…
▪️Top NBA head coaches reportedly earn between $14M-$17M per year…
— Spotrac (@spotrac) June 6, 2024
Check back for updates.
